Pivoting trailer hitch

ABSTRACT

A trailer hitch assembly adapted for use with a foldable liftgate assembly on a truck. The trailer hitch assembly is able to be pivoted out of the way of the liftgate assembly as the liftgate is deployed from a stowed position beneath the truck chassis. The liftgate assembly may include a foldable platform including a main platform member and a platform extension.

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of U.S.Utility patent application, Ser. No. 09/478,757, filed on Jan. 6, 2000,in Express Mail Label No. EL510434420US by the same inventor, Wayne L.Krause, entitled PIVOTING TRAILER HITCH, issued as U.S. Pat. No.6,589,006, which claims priority to a provisional patent applicationhaving Ser. No. 60/115,000 and was filed on Jan. 6, 1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to the field of liftgate assembliesand more particularly to liftgate constructions including a pivotingtrailer hitch.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the art it is known to provide trucks having various designs ofliftgates mounted to the rear of the truck or carried under the truckchassis. One problem encountered in the art is that the addition oftrailer hitches on the trucks limit the use of liftgates or elevatingplatforms. The present invention contemplates a new and improvedliftgate which is simple in design, effective in use, and overcomes theforegoing difficulties and others while providing better and moreadvantageous overall results.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a new and improved liftgate isprovided which overcomes difficulties associated with liftgates andprovides better and move advantageous overall results.

According to one aspect of the invention, a combination liftgateassembly having a platform surface, a first pivot member about which thefoldable platform assembly selectively pivots from a stowed position toan unstowed position, means for selectively moving said platformassembly from said stowed position to said unstowed position, a hitchassembly including a hitch, a second pivot member about which the hitchassembly pivots from a first position to a second position; and, meansfor selectively pivoting the hitch assembly about the second pivotmember.

According to another aspect of the invention, the foldable platformassembly further includes a platform extension and a platform extensionhinge.

According to another aspect of the invention, the hitch is carried on afirst surface which is generally horizontal when the hitch assembly isin the first position and is disposed at an angle when the hitchassembly is in the second position.

According to another aspect of the invention, a hydraulic cylinder isutilized to move the hitch assembly from the first position to thesecond position.

According to another aspect of the invention, the combination includes apair of opposite lift arms which carry the platform assembly.

According to another aspect of the invention, the combination includes asupport pin that extends between each of the lift arms.

According to another aspect of the invention, the hitch assembly restson the support pin in moveable relationship thereto.

One advantage of the present invention is that a truck can be equippedwith both a foldable liftgate assembly as well as a trailer hitchbecause the trailer hitch pivots out of the way when the liftgateassembly is deployed.

Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading and understanding ofthe following detailed specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement ofparts. A preferred embodiment of these parts will be described in detailin the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, whichform a part of this disclosure and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the liftgate and trailer hitch combination ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the combination of FIG. 1 where the foldableplatform is partially deployed; and,

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the combination of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, which are for purposes of illustrating apreferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for purposes oflimiting the invention, FIG. 1 shows a side view of the liftgate/trailerhitch combination 10 of the present invention.

In the preferred embodiment, a conventional liftgate is redesigned inorder to move the hydraulic cylinder out of the way. Therefore, theliftgate 11 shown in the present invention is not a standard-typeliftgate within the industry. An additional pivot point is added, whichis noted as a hitch pivot 12 as will be explained later in thisdisclosure. As in a usual folding liftgate, the present inventionincludes a lift arm pivot 20 that works to move the liftgate 11 from thestowed position to a deployed position. In the preferred embodiment, thehitch pivot 12 is located above the lift arm pivot 20. The hitch pivot12 allows the hitch assembly 13 itself to pivot out of the way so thatthe liftgate can be deployed. The hitch pivot assembly 13 may comprise ahitch 28, a hydraulic cylinder 14, a lift cylinder clevis 16, a mounttube 18, a lift arm pivot 20, a lift tube 22, a lift arm assembly 24,and support pin 26. The support pin 26 runs across from lift armassembly 24 to lift arm assembly 24. The lift arm assemblies 24 arelocated on both sides of an associated lift gate, each on one side of atruck. The hitch assembly 13 rests on the pin 26. As the lift arms 24pivot downwardly it allows the hitch assembly 13 to pivot in a firstdirection as well. The hitch 28 will actually slide relative to thesupport pin 26.

The lift arms 24 are attached to the liftgate platform 41 and attachedto the hydraulic cylinder 14 to lift a load (not shown). The lift tube22 extends from lift arm 24 to the other lift arm 24, which is directlyopposed to it, and is welded to the clevis 16 which is attached to thecylinder 14. The clevis 16 holds the lift tube 22 and in the preferredembodiment goes around three sides of the lift tube 22.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the stowed position, the liftgate 11 contactsup-stop bars 36. The platform 41 comprises two pieces that are shownfolded. A platform extension hinge 40 connects the two pieces of theplatform 41. The two pieces of the platform 41 are labeled as platformextension 42, and the main platform 44. The up-stop bars 36 aregenerally two rectangular blocks that are substantially the same size,one to about the end of the platform 41 and one to about midway on theplatform 41. By limiting the platform 41 it limits the level of thehitch assembly 13. The up-stop bars are attached to a frame 50 of thevehicle.

The first up-stop bar 37, located midway on the platform 44, is actuallycontacting the bottom surface of the platform 41. The platform 41 has adiamond plate skin on its top side. The bar 37 butts up against theunderside of this skin. The platform 41 additionally has a frameassembly around it. So the first up-stop bar 37 actually reaches downinside of the frame assembly and contacts the bottom surface of the mainplatform 44. The other up-stop bar 39 butts up against a cross tube 43that runs from side to side on the main platform 44. Latch hooks 34engages bail 32. Normally, there is only one latch hook 34, however, inthis case there are two latch hooks located on opposite sides of thetruck (not shown) and directly oppose one another. The reason for twolatch hooks 34 is to straddle a pullout ramp (not shown) on a typicalrental truck. The rental trucks typically have a loading pull out rampthat slides on the frame of the truck. Therefore, the latch hooks arelocated on either side of the aforementioned ramp. These latch hooks 34engage on the platform 41 automatically as the platform 41 is foldedaway such that hooks 34 are spring-loaded and will engage a bail 32. Itshould be noted that the hooks 34 could not be located within the centerof the truck because it would be in the way of the pull out loading rampthat is on this vehicle.

The platform extension 42 rotates 180 degrees to enable one to rollsomething onto the platform extension 42.

The hitch assembly 13 of the present invention pivots with the lift arms24 and has to pivot out of the way of the platform 41. As the platform41 travels and rotates downwardly, if the hitch assembly 13 were fixedand did not pivot out of the way, the platform 41 would traveldownwardly on top of the hitch assembly 28 and stall out. It would notbe able to go down any further. This invention is particularly adaptedfor use on a low bed truck having limitations of room from the bottom ofthe truck to the road. With this invention, there enables one to have afixed hitch far apart without causing problems.

The mount tube 18 is located below the hydraulic cylinder 14 and thereare also brackets (not shown) that mount to the tube 18 and are weldedonto the vehicle frame.

The invention has been described with reference to the preferredembodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur toothers upon a reading and understanding of the specification. It isintended by applicant to include all such modifications and alterationsinsofar as they come within the scope of equivalents thereof.

1. In combination, a vehicle having a liftgate assembly and a trailerhitch, the combination comprising: a foldable platform assemblyincluding a main platform having a platform surface; a first pivotmember about which said foldable platform assembly selectively pivotsfrom a stowed position to an unstowed position; lift arms pivotallyattached to said first pivot member; a support pin extending betweensaid lift arms; means for selectively moving said platform assembly fromsaid stowed position to said unstowed position; a hitch assemblyincluding a hitch; a second pivot member about which said hitch assemblypivots from a first position to a second position, said second pivotmember adapted to enable said hitch to slide relative to said supportpin, said support pin adapted to contact said hitch assembly when saidplatform assembly is in said unstowed position; and, means forselectively pivoting said hitch assembly about said second pivot member;wherein said vehicle comprises a ramp operatively connected to saidframe, said ramp having first and second sides; and two oppositelydisposed latch hooks attached to the first and second sides of saidramp.
 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said first pivot memberdefines a first axis, said second pivot member defines a second axis,and said first axis and said second axis are substantially parallel. 3.The combination of claim 1, wherein said hitch assembly is positionedover an underlying surface and maintains a spaced relationship with theunderlying surface in the stowed and unstowed positions.
 4. Thecombination of claim 1, wherein said first pivot member is a lift armpivot.
 5. The combination of claim, wherein said second pivot member islocated above said first pivot member.
 6. The combination of claim 1,wherein said foldable platform assembly further comprises a platformextension pivotally connected to said main platform.
 7. The combinationof claim 6, wherein said platform extension is adapted to rotate 180degrees.
 8. The combination of claim 1, wherein said hitch assembly isin constant contact with said support pin when said platform is in thestowed and unstowed position.
 9. In combination, a vehicle having aliftgate assembly and a trailer hitch, the combination comprising: afoldable platform assembly including a main platform having a platformsurface; a first pivot member about which said foldable platformassembly selectively pivots from a stowed position to an unstowedposition; lift arms pivotally attached to said first pivot member; asupport pin extending between said lift arms; a hitch assembly includinga hitch; a hydraulic cylinder adapted to selectively move said platformassembly from said stowed position to said unstowed position; and, ahitch pivot member about which said hitch assembly pivots from a firstposition to a second position, said hitch assembly adapted to rest onsaid support pin when said foldable platform assembly is in said stowedand unstowed positions, said hitch pivot member adapted to enable saidhitch assembly to slide relative to said support pin, said hydrauliccylinder also adapted to selectively pivot said hitch assembly aboutsaid hitch pivot member; wherein said vehicle further comprises: a rampoperatively connected to said frame, said ramp having first and secondsides; and, two oppositely disposed latch hooks attached to the firstand second sides of said ramp.
 10. The combination of claim 9, whereinsaid vehicle comprises: a frame; and, a first up-stop bar attached tosaid frame.
 11. The combination of claim 10, wherein said first up-stopbar contacts said main platform midway on said main platform.
 12. Thecombination of claim 11, wherein said first up-stop bar contacts theinside surface of said main platform.
 13. The combination of claim 10,wherein said vehicle further comprises a second up-stop bar attached tosaid frame, said second up-stop bar contacts a cross tube, said crosstube attached to said main platform.
 14. The combination of claim 9,wherein said latch hooks are adapted to engage said platform assembly.15. The combination of claim 9, wherein said latch hooks are springloaded.
 16. The combination of claim 9, wherein said latch hooks areadapted to receive a bail to support said platform in the stowedposition.
 17. The combination of claim 9, wherein said vehicle is a lowbed truck.